To identify the Council or its designee as the sole authority
for establishing and representing the position of the judiciary to the executive
branch on policy initiatives.

To identify the role of other judicial offices and entities
in executive branch policy making.

To establish a procedure for judicial consideration of
executive branch policy initiatives.

To establish a procedure for agencies, groups and individuals
to seek Council review of executive branch policy initiatives.

Applicability:

This rule shall apply to the judiciary's involvement in
executive branch policy making.

Statement of the Rule:

(1) Authority and responsibility of the council and its
liaison committee.

(A) The Council shall establish and represent the position of
the judiciary to the executive branch on executive branch policy initiatives.

(B) The Council may endorse, oppose, or take no position on
proposed executive policy initiatives. The Council shall limit its consideration
of executive action to that which affects the Constitutional authority, the
statutory authority, the jurisdiction, the organization or the administration of
the judiciary.

(2) Authority and responsibility of the boards. Boards may
review proposed executive policy initiatives and recommend positions to the
Council, but may not take public positions independent of the Council.

(3) Authority and responsibility of the court administrator.

(A) Consistent with this Code and the policies and priorities
of the Council, the Court Administrator shall act as the official spokesperson
for the judiciary and is authorized to negotiate, on behalf of the Council,
positions related to budget and other executive matters.

(B) Under the direction of the Council, the Court
Administrator is responsible for coordinating all interaction between the
judiciary and the executive branch including the following:

(i) scheduling meetings between the Council and the executive
branch;

(ii) meeting with representatives of the executive branch to
convey the position of the judiciary;

(iv) receiving requests for Council consideration of
executive initiatives from interested individuals, groups or agencies.

(4) Authority of individual judicial officers and employees.
Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prohibit individual judges, court
administrators or court executives from meeting with representatives of the
executive branch on an individual basis to resolve local management or
administrative issues consistently with Council policy and the provisions of
this Code.